Mobile transfer device for a litter and operating table



Oct. 14, 1952 s WATERMAN 2,613,372

MOBILE TRANSFER DEVICE FOR A LITTER AND OPERATING TABLE Filed June 18, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l III. -r 7 /2 INVENTOR.

I I SAMUEL A. MTERM/l/V,

. .BY was. &- ;&

Oct. 14, 1952 s. A. WATERMAN MOBILE TRANSFER DEVICE FOR A LITTER AND OPERATING TABLE 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 Filed June 18, 1949 Patented Oct. 14, 1952 MOBILE TRANSFER DEVICE FOR A LITTER AND OPERATING TABLE Samuel A. Waterman, Miami, Fla., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Samuel A. Waterman and Gene Waterman Application June 18, 1949, Serial No. 99,922

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mobile operating tables and has particular refer-- ence to an operating table capable of being readily transferred from place to place for emergency or other operations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile operating table embodying means for easily and quickly adjusting the height of the table for convenient operating position, which may be adjusted to a height for convenient transfer of a patient from a bed, has a rigid table top that is quickly and easily removed and stored beneath the table and further, includes a flexible litter to be substituted for the rigid top when the device is to be employed as a patient transfer means.

Another object of the invention resides inthe novel means for elevating or lowering the table to accommodate itself to various operating heights, is operablefrom either end of the table with a minimum of effort, is exceptionally convenient in removing a patient from abed, since the device can be adjusted to bed height and rolled beneath the bed with the table or litter overlying the bed. i

The structure further readily adapts itself for use in industrial plants, coal mines, factories and for first aid in hospitals, permits prompt treatment for the injured, since it can be quickly moved to the site of an accident or the like, thus greatly minimizing the danger of shock to the patient, provides storage space for first aid materials beneath the table, permits obstetrical delivery at any point in the hospital without the necessity of transferring a patient to a delivery room, is safe against accidental shifting in height due to its worm gear operating means, is quickly and easily convertible from an operating table to a litter and has for its major and outstanding purpose the performance of surgery at any remote point and the rapid and comfortable transfer, of a patient.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention with respect to structural features, through the medium-of which an exceptionally strong and durable device is provided that has mechanical means requiring a minimum of attention, is comparatively cheap to manufacture, is easily moved through the medium of large diameter caster wheels and is highly convenient in use.

Referring to the drawings, wherein has been illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts'throughout;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mobile operating table constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, 7

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section, taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of an end of one elevating arm and an associate litter supporting arm,

Figure 5 is an enlarged end elevation of the table and,

on line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates identical base frame members, horizontally arranged in spaced apart relation and rigidly tied together by preferably cylindrical horizontal bars 6. The base members 5, see particularly Figure l, are offset inwardly toward each other from head portions '1. The offset portions of the base members are parallel to each other and are provided at their outer ends with bearings for the rotatable support of relatively large caster wheels 8. Identical caster wheels 9 are rotatably supported by the underneath part of the heads 7, as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6. Each base member 5 is provided with a suitable bracket it, in depending rela tion, adapted to support stop devices of the stepon variety, indicated generally at It. Thus, a very rigid frame has been provided that is easily mobile through the medium of the caster wheels 8 and 9 and easily held against movement by the step-on devices l I, as desired. Supported on the bars 6, is a preferably metallic shelf :2, that extends entirely across the frame, providing an area for the support of suitable surgical equipment, preferably in a suitable chest structure it:

l5 and has its terminal ends also rigidly fixed in' the blocks. The rod It braces the blocks and the rods l4 against inward or outward flexing movement in use.

Mounted outwardly of the rods it and adapted to be shifted in a vertical plane, is a pair of identical table or little supporting arms ll, generally flat and having a vertical supporting and guiding portion 18, an outwardly inclined portion [9 and a horizontal elongated arm section 20. The arm sections 20 are parallel and are adapted to maintain identical degrees of elevation through mechanism to be described. Backing plates 2| are arranged upon the inner sides of the rods l4. Connected between the plates l8 and 20, are short shaft sections '22, carrying antifriction rollers 23, jointly bearing upon the rods l4. Thus, the spaced apart rods 14' serve as a guide for the rollers 23, while the plates 18 and 20 are maintained in suitable clearance with the rods to permit of the supporting arms IT being raised or lowered upon the rods M. The spacing of the rollers 23 is sufficient to prevent binding upon the rods [4 when a load is supported on the arms 11. Each arm 20 is notched adjacent the ends of its horizontal section, as at 24, for the support of litter rods, in cases where other than the regular equipment of litter is employed.- Welded or otherwise fixed to the inner sides of the arms 20 and in alignment with the notches 24, are notched brackets 2-5, adapted to receive the grooved end 26 of litter arms 21. This particular mounting avoids the possibility ofthe litter arms slipping from the supported position when any abnormal pressure is brought against the arms 20 in an outward direction. A conventional litter 28 is carried by the arms 21 through the medium of a hem on each side, as at 2-9.-

Means are employed to elevate the arms I? in unison, carrying with them, the litter '28 and a patient that might be supported thereon, comprising a common operating shaft 39, journalled in bearings 3 l, formed upon the blocks i. Theshaft extends at its opposite ends beyond the blocks l5 and carry operating hand wheels 32. The bearings 3! are provided with suitable bushings, not shown. Mounted inwardly of the bearing 3| and fixed to the shaft 30, are worms 33, having mesh with worm gears 34, fixed upon the upper ends of elevating screws 35. The screws 35 parallel the rods 14* and have a journal bearing in the blocks I5. The lower ends of the screws 35 are threaded, as at 36andhavethreaded engagement with nuts 37, fixed uponthe plates 2|. A suitable thrust bearing is preferably employed beneath the Worm gear and the block 5 to take the downward pressure that is normally exerted upon the screws 35 due to the weight of the litter supporting arms IT and asupported patient. It will thus be seen, that when the shaft 30 is rotated from either end, motion is imparted to the screws 35 through the worm and worm gear, rotating the screw with respect to the nut 31, causing a movement in the verticalplane of the arms l'l, guided by the rodsl4. Thus, the arms H are jointly moved and locked in the adjusted position by the worm and worm gear drive.

Since this device is adapted tobe used both for a mobile litter support and an operating table, it becomes necessary that a rigid table be employed when the device is to be used as anoperating table. For this purpose, a rigid table top 38,, shown in full lines in Figure 6, isplaced in position upon the top edges of the arms 20 and supported against shifting in either direction by means not shown. The top 38, being detachable, is usually kept in supportedposition upon the lower frame members 5, whereit is always available for emergency operations and normally remainswith the device at all timesas an essential part of the invention, since the device is primarily for emergency purposes, to be transferred from place to place when occasion arises.

In the use of the device, when an emergency exists, such as in a hospital, the device is transferred to the point of emergency. If the patient should be in bed, the device is Wheeled to the bed and adjusted to the point where the arms 20 are just sufficiently high as to pass over the mattress. The device is then shoved forward to apoint where the arms 20 overlie the bed and the base members extend under the bed. The patient istherr moved onto the litter 28, or the table 38', as the case may be and any medical attention can then be performed directly, or the patient transferred to a remote point for treatment. When used as an operating table, it is particularly advantageous to have the table adjustable as to height, thus permitting a delicate adjustment most desirable to the surgeon. The device is desirable particularly in industrial plants, mines or the like, where it frequently becomes necessary to perform surgery at the tient, the table top 38 placed in position and the patient placed thereon. The table is caused to remain stationary during surgery, by the step-on devices II.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a very novel and highly convenient mobile table and litter has been provided. The structure is very strong, quickly and easily adjustable to the de" sired height from either end thereof, has few parts that require a minimum of attention and is extremely desirable for all emergency medical attention.

It is to be understood, that the inventionis not limited to the precise arrangement shown,

but that it includes. within it'spurview, whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what- I claim as-new and desire'to secure by Letters-Patent is: 1-. A mobile operating and transfer table-com prising a base frame including spaced and horizontally arranged frame members; rigid bar's cor'i nected to the frame members for providing agen'erally U-shaped open front frame) c'a'ster wheels carried at th'e'fou'r' corners ofmeaningspair'of vertically arranged and parallel rods sup ported by the rear ends of each frame member inspaced' relation, bearing blocks rigidly a'ttached to the upper ends of eachpair-of ro'ds,a

brace tie rod connecting the bearing bl'ocks' el'evating arms arranged at either end' of the" table outwardly of the rods; means carried by'tliearnifor antifriction sliding engagement with' the rods" supports being parallel with respectto'each other for the detachable reception of a body supporting table, an operating shaft journalled at-each end in the bearingblocksand projecting there beyond and provided with hand wheels' at each end, gear means carried by the shaft and means controllable by the gear means and having operative connection with the guide means for imparting simultaneous vertical movement to the arms and stop means carried by the frame members for maintaining the table against shifting upon its caster Wheels.

2. A mobile transfer device for the elevating support of an operating table including a base frame of general U-shape open at the front and comprising a pair of spaced end frame members each inwardly offset in parallel relation and having fiat horizontal tops, rigid parallel bars connecting the frame members, each frame member provided at its rear head portion with a pair of vertically arranged spaced parallel rods, a bearing block fixed jointly upon the upper ends of each pair of rods, journal bearings formed on the blocks, a tie rod connecting the blocks, the blocks being of equal elevation above the base frame, a horizontally arranged common operating shaft journalled in the blocks and extending from end to end of the device and projecting beyond the journals, hand wheels fixed on the terminal ends of the shaft, elevating arms for the detachable support of an operating table, each said arms including a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, the vertical leg positioned outwardly of and in slidable contact with the rods, a guide plate for maintaining the vertical leg in traverse position against the rod, antifriction rollers journalled in the vertical leg and the guide plate jointly and shiftable vertically between the rods, and gearing operable by the shaft from either end of the table and having connection with the guide plates for moving the arms simultaneously in a vertical plane for elevating or lowering the operating table, caster wheels for supporting the frame in a mobile manner and step-on stop devices carried by each frame memher for immobilizing the device.

3. A mobile elevating transfer device for an operating table comprising a base frame including a pair of inwardly offset spaced end frame members having head portions and flat horizontally arranged tops, ground engaging caster wheels rotatably supported at either end of the frame members, a pair of spaced vertically arranged rods fixed upon the head portions of each frame member, journal bearin blocks carried jointly upon the upper ends of each pair of rods, a tie rod rigidly connecting the blocks, elevating arms for the detachable support of an operating table, said arms each including a vertical and a horizontal leg portion, the vertical leg of each arm positioned against and upon the outer side of the rods and of a width to overlie the rods of each pair, a guide plate arranged upon the inner side of each pair of rods and being of a width to overlie the rods of each pair, pairs of antifriction rollers positioned between the rods of each pair and adapted to traverse the space between the rods, shafts connected with each vertical le portion and correspondin plate jointly for the rotatable support of the rollers, a threaded nut carried by each guide plate and extended inwardly of the frame, screw devices vertically arranged and having their lower portions threaded to engage a nut carried by each of the guide plates, said screw devices having their upper ends journalled in the blocks and projecting above the blocks, worm gears carried by the upper ends of the screws above the blocks, a common operating shaft extending from end to end of the table and journalleol in the blocks, the shaft extending beyond the blocks at either end and pro vided with hand wheels fixed at the terminal ends thereof, worms fixed upon the shaft in meshing engagement with the worm gears, the horizontal leg of each arm provided with spaced notched brackets for the support of a pair of horizontally arranged rods, parallel bars for maintaining the frame members in rigid spaced relation, and stop devices for immobilizing the transfer device.

SAMUEL A. WATERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,018,723 Miller et a1. Feb. 27, 1912 1,963,022 Kettelson June 12, 1935 2,208,410 Carter July 16, 1940 2,234,483 Sutton Mar. 11, 1941 2,404,734 Lenahan July 23, 1946 2,498,853 Hassold Feb. 28, 1950 

